Madonna Blames Brits Stairs Tumble On Cloak

Customers 'Duped' By Energy Switching Deals

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 28 Februari 2015 | 14.44

Energy price comparison websites have been "duping" customers into switching to deals that are not the cheapest on the market and should pay them compensation, a group of MPs have said.

The Energy and Climate Change Committee said some sites had used misleading language to dupe consumers into options that only displayed commission-earning deals.

It has called on energy watchdog Ofgem to consider requiring price comparison sites to disclose the amount of commission received for each switch at the point of sale.

Representatives of the "big five" sites told MPs they earn up to £30 in commission every time a customer switches to a participating provider, or up to £60 when a customer switches both their gas and electricity accounts.

Committee chairman Tim Yeo said: "Consumers trust price comparison services to help them switch to the best energy deals available on the market.

"But some energy price comparison sites have been behaving more like backstreet market traders than the trustworthy consumer champions they make themselves out to be in adverts on TV.

"Some comparison sites have used misleading language to dupe consumers into opting for default options that only display commission-earning deals. And others have previously gone so far as to conceal deals that do not earn them commission behind multiple drop-down web options."

He added: "As an immediate and essential first step towards rebuilding confidence, the companies should compensate any consumers who have been encouraged to switch to tariffs that may not have been the cheapest or most appropriate for their needs.

"We have no objection to commission being paid by suppliers to price comparison websites as long as the arrangements are clearly disclosed."

Earlier this month, uSwitch told the committee it would compensate consumers who had been misled into signing up for an energy tariff that was more expensive than others available.

Its chief executive Steve Weller told the committee he was "sincerely disappointed" that a customer was told by his call centre that the cheapest deal available to him was with First Utility, when it was in fact with extraenergy for more than £60 less.

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High School Of 'Jihadi John' Under Scrutiny

A classmate of Mohammed Emwazi - the Londoner unmasked as "Jihadi John" - has told Sky News that "nothing in his high school could have left him radicalised".

The fellow pupil of the Quintin Kynaston academy, who was two years older than Emwazi and does not wish to be named, believes the IS militant's education beyond high school may be responsible for his transformation into a cold-blooded killer.

"It wasn't like university where you'd have speakers coming over from certain societies to give talks," he said. "I suppose there was potential for him to be groomed, that is a possibility. But at the time, at secondary school, he was like any of us."

Emwazi went on to study at the University of Westminster between 2006 and 2009 - finishing his computer programming degree in the same year he was reportedly questioned by an MI5 officer in Amsterdam, accused of attempting to travel to Somalia to join a terror group.

According to the classmate, there was nothing to suggest Emwazi was religious during his teenage years. He was quiet, rarely made eye contact, and always wore a baseball cap - but was known to get into the occasional fight.

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Gallery: Jihadi John's University Academic Record

Mohammed Emwazi, aka Jihadi John, studied a computing course at university. Sky News has exclusively obtained his student record

His file shows mostly middling academic grades for his course modules. He graduated with a lower second (2.2) degree

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UK's Second Ebola Vaccine Ready For Testing

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 27 Februari 2015 | 14.44

By Adele Robinson, Midlands Correspondent

The UK's second Ebola vaccine is being fast-tracked to start testing in Africa in the coming weeks.

The trial, at the Oxford Vaccine Group, consists of two different vaccines given weeks apart.

The first injection "primes" the immune system with the second "boosting", or enhancing, the immune response.

Human trials started in Oxford in January and are expected to begin in Ghana, Tanzania and Kenya soon.

Large-scale testing, on tens of thousands of people in Africa, is planned for later this year.

It is one of only two Ebola vaccines to undergo clinical trials in the UK, and one of four "leading candidate Ebola vaccines" around the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The first UK vaccine, also developed at Oxford University last year, is currently undergoing testing in Africa.

Professor Matthew Snape, from the Oxford Vaccine Group, says the fact that several companies are developing vaccines is useful for the future.

"The more vaccines that are in development the more that are likely to get through development.

"If there were to be another large Ebola outbreak or a mass immunisation campaign planned for Ebola the more manufacturers you have the better.

"They may be making different vaccines and there may be different vaccines used in different situations."

The double-dose vaccine has been developed by Johnson & Johnson with EU funding at the Oxford Vaccine Group.

Dr Neil Walker, a statistician at Churchill Hospital, volunteered to take part in human testing.

"There is a very small element of risk involved but I put my trust in the science," he said.

"It would be nice to know at the end of the study that I've contributed in a very small way to getting this vaccine out into the real world."

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Kids As Young As 11 Sharing Self-Harm Images

"Alarming" numbers of children are being exposed to images of self-harm before they are even teenagers, a study by four youth charities has found.

According to the survey, 60% of 11 to 14-year-olds have shared photographs of people self-harming on social networking sites.

When children from this age group were asked how they responded to such images, more than half said they "felt like hurting themselves afterwards".

The study also suggests that 80% of 18 to 21-year-olds have self-harmed, or know someone who has - prompting experts to warn the findings "beg concerning questions about the relationship between self-harm, children, young people and parts of the online world".

More than 2,000 people aged between 11 and 21 were questioned by ChildLine, YouthNet, selfharmUK and YoungMinds ahead of Self-Harm Awareness Day on 1 March.

Emma Thomas, chief executive of YouthNet, said: "We all have a responsibility to share content and images responsibly online, and to be aware of how what we post might affect others.

"Far more must be done to educate and empower young people, so they can be safer online."

In response to the findings, a Government spokesman said it took the issue of child safety online very seriously - with £150m being invested to help young people who suffer from eating disorders, and those who self-harm.

He added: "The four main internet service providers have committed to giving their customers an unavoidable choice on installing family friendly filters that will protect all devices in the home.

"These allow parents to prevent their children from accessing suicide and self-harm sites, as well as other potentially harmful content."

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Madonna Blames Brits Stairs Tumble On Cloak

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 26 Februari 2015 | 14.44

Madonna Blames Brits Stairs Tumble On Cloak

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Madonna took a nasty tumble down some stairs after a costume malfunction during her first performance at the Brit Awards in 20 years.

Viewers were left shocked when the singer fell backwards and smashed into the stage after a dancer tried to yank off the cloak she was wearing.

The singer fell three steps before getting back on her feet to continue the performance surrounded by dancers dressed as devils.

She took to Instagram soon after the gaffe and explained that the Armani cloak was "tied too tight", but that she was "fine".

"Armani hooked me up! My beautiful cape was tied too tight! But nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up! Thanks for your good wishes! I'm fine! ❤️#livingforlove," she wrote.

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Gallery: Fallen Madonna: Star Hits The Deck

Madonna takes a nasty tumble during her performance of Living For Love at the Brit Awards

The accident happened when a dancer attempted to remove her cloak, sending her falling backwards down the stairs with her legs in the air

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Madonna was temporarily left on the deck but the Queen of Pop carried on with her performance despite the wince-inducing mishap

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Sky's Richard Suchet, who was at the event at the O2 Arena in London, said onlookers winced as the Queen of Pop fell in front of thousands of fans.

Many took to Twitter to show their support after the slip-up as she sang her new single Living For Love.

The track, from the 56-year-old's new album Rebel Heart, ironically contains the lyrics "Lifted me up and watched me stumble" and "Took me to heaven and let me fall down."

Tweeter Louise Houghton wrote: "Big respect to @Madonna @BRITAwards for carrying on so professionally & giving an awesome performance. Please don't slate her."

Melanie Redmond tweeted: "Oh my god. Madonna. That fall. I feel so bad for you but you did sing about stumbling. And you really did more than that, you crash landed."

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Gallery: Battle Of The Nice Guys At Brits

Ed Sheeran won the first award of the night after being named best British male solo and best British album

Paloma Faith gave a long and emotional speech after being named best British female solo artist

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Another wrote: "I'm sweating with anxiety for the cape puller who will perish in the flames tonight."

Madonna was the last act to perform during the show, hosted by Ant and Dec, which saw Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith walk away with two prizes each.

She was not the only act whose performance did not go as they might have hoped.

Kanye West's song All Day had to be heavily muted by ITV because of repeated uses of the n-word in the lyrics, leaving many watching at home scratching their heads.

One viewer, tweeting as Shukat1, said: "Why have Kanye if you're just gonna censor the performance?"

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Written By Unknown on Rabu, 25 Februari 2015 | 14.43

Three British schoolgirls feared to be planning to join Islamic State are now believed by police to have crossed the Turkish border into Syria.

Scotland Yard said counter-terrorism officers leading the investigation "now have reason to believe that they are no longer in Turkey and have crossed into Syria".

A spokesman added: "Officers continue to work closely with the Turkish authorities on this investigation."

Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase, from east London, flew to Istanbul from Gatwick Airport last Tuesday.

The girls' relatives have made emotional pleas for them to come home amid concerns they may have been recruited by jihadists who communicated with them online.

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Gallery: Three Schoolgirls From East London Go Missing

These pictures were taken from Kadiza Sultana (l) and Shamima Begum's (r) Twitter accounts

Kadiza and Shamima are feared to be on their way to Syria with a third girl, 15-year-old Amira Abase

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SUBC: Speaker Takes Some Blame For Rowdy PMQs

By Sophy Ridge, Political Correspondent

The Speaker of the House of Commons has admitted he is partly responsible for the bad behaviour at Prime Minister's Questions.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News Stand Up Be Counted members, John Bercow MP said: "Do I accept some share of the responsibility for putting it right? I do."

He also gave his views on the "cash for access" scandal telling MPs Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Jack Straw they will "cop it" if it is proven they have broken the rules over claims they offered to trade their influence in return for money.

Four young people challenged the Speaker on how he runs Parliament as part of Sky News' campaign to give a voice to 18-24 year olds.

Chris Robertson, 24, from Lincoln, said he finds MPs' conduct at PMQs "horrible".

He said: "I'm a student union president and if I acted like that around my members I'd have been sacked by now.

"You've been speaking out for six years. Do you not think it should've been curtailed by now? Does it mean that you have failed in your job as leader of the house and Speaker?"

Mr Bercow replied: "Do I accept that the unreformed Prime Minister's Questions is a problem? I do. Do I accept some share of responsibility for putting it right? I do.

"Would I accept that it's all down to the Speaker? No I wouldn't. What I can't do, what no Speaker can do is make people behave decently if they don't want to behave decently.

"Members have got to take responsibility for their own conduct in the chamber.

"And I think my point would be to ask members who shout regularly - would you be content for your constituents to see and hear you if you if you were caught on camera?

"And if the answer is they would be content, there is something wrong, and if the answer is that they wouldn't be content then they should change the way they behave."

The Stand Up Be Counted contributors were given rare access to the Speaker in the Palace of Westminster as part of attempts to engage young people in politics.

Less than half of 18-24 year olds voted at the last election, with young women the least likely to vote by some margin.

Eighteen-year-old Ellie James, from Grimsby, challenged the Speaker about the lack of female MPs.

He criticised the main parties for not doing enough, saying: "I think the parties talked the talk and have made some progress but I don't think they anything like as effectively walked the walk, so I would look to the parties to do more there."

He also revealed that he seeks to make sure women are called to speak in the Chamber, adding: "I don't like calling lots of men in a row. I always have in mind what female colleagues I have called today. And if I may say so, and this isn't meant in a patronising sense at all, but the simple fact is women on the whole are better behaved in parliament than the men.

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Gallery: Stand Up Be Counted Poll Results

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Feeding Peanuts To Kids May Prevent Allergies

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 24 Februari 2015 | 14.43

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

Children with a high risk of developing life-threatening peanut allergies can be protected if given foods containing them when they are babies, according to new research.

Almost one in 50 children is allergic to peanuts, double the rate of ten years ago, and the condition kills more people than any other food allergy.

The Learning Early About Peanut Allergy study led by Professor Gideon Lack of King's College London involved 640 children who were considered at high risk of developing peanut allergy due to pre-existing severe eczema or egg allergy.

Half the children ate foods containing peanuts at least three times a week until they were five, while the others avoided peanuts altogether.

At the end of the study 3.2% of the children who had eaten peanuts had an allergic reaction to them, compared with 17.2% of the control group.

Professor Lack said it was an important clinical development that contravenes previous guidelines.

"Whilst these were withdrawn in 2008 in the UK and US, our study suggests that new guidelines may be needed to reduce the rate of peanut allergy in our children," he said.

Despite their findings, the study's authors warn parents not to give peanuts to infants or young children without taking medical advice and say further research is needed.

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Half Of UK Food Will Come From Abroad By 2040

By Becky Johnson, Sky News Correspondent

Farmers have warned that almost half of the UK's food will come from abroad by 2040.

Research by the National Farmer's Union (NFU) has found that over the last 30 years a downward spiral of self sufficiency means less and less of what we eat is British grown or reared.

Currently just 60% of food consumed in the UK is British. That is predicted to fall to 53% in 25 years time, with a warning it could fall below 50% by 2080.

NFU vice president Guy Smith said: "Currently, farming grows most of the raw ingredients for Britain's food and drink industry - worth £97bn - which provides jobs for 3.5 million people across the country.

"With that in mind, the prospect of the UK becoming less than 50% self-sufficient should ring alarm bells across all political parties.

"Our burgeoning trade deficit in food and drink isn't just worrying in terms of food security; it also has important implications for jobs and general economic health."

Mike Gorton has been farming in Cheshire for nearly five decades. He told Sky News it is important to protect the quality of the food we eat.

"Recently we saw the 'horsegate' scandal where you can't be as sure of products from abroad as you can from our domestic produce that has the red tractor where we're working hard as an industry to ensure the standards the public demand are met."

The NFU says it has the support of the public, citing a recent poll which found 85% of people want to see more British produce on supermarket shelves.

However many shoppers who spoke to Sky News in Handforth, Cheshire, admitted price dictates what they buy over whether it is British or not.

An over reliance on imported food led to rationing during World War Two. A subsequent drive to increase food production has now subsided since self sufficiency peaked in the 1980s.

The NFU says the UK's food security should be a priority whichever Government is in power after the general election.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said: "From farm to fork, our food industry is in good health - it generated a record £103bn for our economy last year, more than cars and aerospace combined.

"We are helping the industry become more competitive, at home and abroad, by opening up record numbers of international food markets to export our produce, making it easier for our schools and hospitals to buy local, helping consumers choose UK products through improved country-of-origin labelling, and investing in cutting-edge technology like GPS-guided tractors."

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HSBC Boss Gulliver In Â£5m Swiss Account Claims

Written By Unknown on Senin, 23 Februari 2015 | 14.44

Stuart Gulliver, HSBC's chief executive, reportedly kept millions of his own money sheltered in the bank's private Swiss offshoot.

The Guardian says Mr Gulliver - due to announce the bank's full-year results this morning - kept $7.6m (£4.93m) via an account held by a Panamanian company.

Leaked files reportedly show that in 2007 he was the beneficial owner of an account held by Worcester Equities Inc.

It comes amid the ongoing scandal over claims HSBC's Swiss private banking arm helped wealthy clients evade and avoid tax, and provided services to criminals including arms dealers.

The Derby-born banking chief apologised for the behaviour of the Swiss division in national newspaper advertisements last week.

Mr Gulliver insisted it had been "completely overhauled" since 2007, when whistleblower Herve Falciani opened the door to the scandal, stealing company data and passing it to French authorities.

Swiss prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into allegations of money laundering after raiding the bank's offices in Geneva.

The 55-year-old - believed to have raked in a £7.4m reward package last year - is legally domiciled in Hong Kong after working there for many years, despite now working in the UK.

Representatives for the banking boss told the Guardian he had paid his bonus payments into HSBC Suisse until 2003.

They said Hong Kong tax had been paid and that Mr Gulliver had also told the UK taxman about the account a "number of years" ago.

A representative said: "Full UK tax has been paid on the entirety of his worldwide earnings less a credit for tax paid additionally in Hong Kong…"

But, according to the newspaper, they would not say why a Panamanian company had been used to hold the money when Swiss accounts already offer secrecy.

MPs are set to grill HMRC tax officials on Wednesday over accusations they failed to act properly on the leaked files and potential evidence of tax evasion by more than 3,000 Britons.

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Ex-Cop Says Sorry Over Chelsea Racism Incident

A former policeman accused of being involved in an alleged racist incident with Chelsea football fans on the Paris Metro has apologised.

Richard Barklie, who was one of three men police sought after a black man was allegedly pushed off the train by chanting football supporters, has insisted he is not a racist.

Video posted online showed commuter Souleymane Sylla being pushed back onto the platform as some of those on the train chanted "we're racist, we're racist and that's the way we like it".

Mr Barklie, 50, who was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and a Police Service of Northern Ireland officer, is currently a director of the World Human Rights Forum.

The Chelsea season ticket holder issued a statement through his solicitor Kevin Winters, in which he admitted being involved in an "incident" that resulted in Mr Sylla being "unable to enter part of the train".

In the statement, Mr Winters said: "Pending formal engagement with police, our client is anxious to put on record his total abhorrence for racism and any activity associated with it.

"As someone who has spent years working with disadvantaged communities in Africa and India he can point to a CV in human rights work, which undermines any suggestion he is racist.

"Today a senior official in the World Human Rights Forum confirmed their support for him.

"He did not participate in racist chanting and singing and condemns any behaviour supporting that."

Mr Winters says Mr Barklie had travelled to matches for more than 20 years with no problems and has "an account to give to police which will explain the context and circumstances" of this incident.

"In the meantime pending that, he wants to put on record his sincerest apologies for the trauma and stress suffered by Mr Souleymane."

The WAVE Trauma Centre, which supports victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles, said it had suspended a part-time worker pending further investigation into the Paris incident.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman says the other two men in the photo have been identified and the force is working with the French authorities.

None of the men sought by Scotland Yard have been arrested.

Five people have so far been suspended from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground following investigations into the incident.

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Super Tide And Strong Winds Brew Up Flood Risk

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 22 Februari 2015 | 14.44

"Super tides", 50mph winds and large waves are threatening to combine to bring flooding misery for coastal communities in England.

The biggest flood risk is in the South West, with four "immediate action required" warnings issued by the Environment Agency (EA), mainly for the Somerset coast; and three for the North West.

Two warnings are also in place around the Wye Estuary in the Midlands. There are also dozens of lower-level amber flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible.

"It's possible we could see some large waves and spray and urge people to take care near coastal paths and promenades and not to drive through flood water," said the EA's flood risk manager Jonathan Day.

The spring "super tides" occur regularly when the gravitational pull of the sun and moon combine.

But the pull of the planets is also at an 18-year peak, making the tides slightly bigger this year, according to the EA.

Surfers on the River Severn made the best of the tidal boost, riding the incoming bore wave on Saturday morning.

Crowds gathered on the banks to watch the phenomenon, which at its peak can reach 13mph and three metres in height.

Saturday's wave was one of several large surges expected in February and March.

Meanwhile, heavy snow is also set to add to a turbulent mix of weekend weather, causing travel problems in Pennine areas and the Highlands.

Parts of England's South East have already had snow this weekend, with rural areas of East Sussex, Surrey and Kent seeing some picture postcard scenes.

The Met Office said freezing temperatures on Saturday night would see more wintry showers sweeping in in the morning.

"The whole of the country will experience strong winds and severe gales over the course of [Sunday], meaning it will be a wet and windy day for many - and a snowy and windy day for northern parts," said Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge.

"Winter is not over just yet."

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Police Hunt Fans Over Racist Station Chants

A gang of men, believed to be Chelsea fans, are being hunted by police after being heard shouting racist chants at St Pancras station.

The men were returning from Paris by train on Wednesday, the day after the club played Paris St Germain in the French capital.

The incident happened at the central London station at around 8pm, and was reported by a member of the public who was "disgusted" by their behaviour, the British Transport Police (BTP) said.

It comes after police released images of three men - believed to be Chelsea fans - who they want to speak to in connection with a separate incident on the Paris Metro on Tuesday.

A group of fans were captured on video stopping a black man boarding a train and chanting: "We're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it."

Speaking about the incident at St Pancras station, Superintendent Gill Murray of the BTP said: "The men shouted as they walked through the station having alighted from the train a short time earlier.

"If you travelled on the train from Paris or were at the station and have information which can assist our investigation I would urge you to get in touch as a matter of urgency."

The club has suspended five people from Stamford Bridge, the club's stadium, while it investigates the incident on the Paris Metro.

Chelsea said it had received "substantial information" following an appeal for witnesses.

The club has reiterated its vow to ban for life anyone proved to have been involved, and is helping police in the UK and France.

Manager Jose Mourinho has said the club is "ashamed" of the supporters, and said he would welcome the victim - Souleymane Sylla - to a future home game.

But Paris-born Mr Sylla, who believes the fans who abused him should be jailed, has rejected the invitation.

"I appreciate Mr Mourinho's invitation, but I can't get my head around being in a stadium at the moment," he said.

In a coincidence, Chelsea's home match against Burnley on Saturday is the club's designated annual "Game for Equality".

Before kick-off, fans of the London side unfurled a banner that read: "Black or white we're all blue."

The matchday programme also denounced the Paris abuse over several pages, including in a column by captain John Terry.

Terry was banned for four matches in 2012 after being found guilty of racially abusing then Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

He wrote: "This club stands against all forms of discrimination.

"Football is a sport for everyone, that is one of the main reasons why we love it."

Club chairman Bruce Buck wrote: "We are all appalled at what we saw and the club would like to apologise unreservedly to Mr Souleymane S for the behaviour of a group of individuals and their unforgivable actions towards him.

He added: "The people involved in that incident in Paris do not represent Chelsea Football Club, they do not stand for the values of this club and they have no place at this club.

"This has been echoed loud and clear by the vast majority of Chelsea supporters."

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Popular Posts Today

Customers 'Duped' By Energy Switching Deals

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 28 Februari 2015 | 14.44

High School Of 'Jihadi John' Under Scrutiny

UK's Second Ebola Vaccine Ready For Testing

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 27 Februari 2015 | 14.44

Kids As Young As 11 Sharing Self-Harm Images

Madonna Blames Brits Stairs Tumble On Cloak

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 26 Februari 2015 | 14.44

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VC Hero Took On 20 Taliban In Helmand Battle

Schoolgirls Believed To Have Crossed Into Syria

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 25 Februari 2015 | 14.43

SUBC: Speaker Takes Some Blame For Rowdy PMQs

Feeding Peanuts To Kids May Prevent Allergies

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 24 Februari 2015 | 14.43

Half Of UK Food Will Come From Abroad By 2040

HSBC Boss Gulliver In Â£5m Swiss Account Claims

Written By Unknown on Senin, 23 Februari 2015 | 14.44

Ex-Cop Says Sorry Over Chelsea Racism Incident

Super Tide And Strong Winds Brew Up Flood Risk

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 22 Februari 2015 | 14.44

Police Hunt Fans Over Racist Station Chants

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